As the date gets closer, you go from being excited to being scared because you don’t know how much meat you need to cook.
I’m going to give you my tried-and-true tips for making sure you have the right amount of food, from the right amount of meat for each person to the right number of sides.
Does the meat you plan to serve make up the whole meal, or is it just a part of it, along with apps, sides, and dessert?
When you look at your barbecue as a whole, you won’t have to worry about how much meat to give each guest, which seems like an impossible task.
This rough guideline takes most of the mystery and angst out of planning how much meat to prepare.
When planning the side dishes, think about how filling they will be. For example, will there be mostly light salads and grilled vegetables, or will there be potato or cheesy pasta dishes? Dishes like our smoked mac and cheese that are high in carbs will fill your guests up a lot.
You might even want to offer both dark and light meat, like brisket and chicken wings. This way, guests can load up on the meat they prefer.
It’s not as hard to make individual meat portions when you’re cooking for a small, familiar group.
Pork ribs are one of the most iconic and delicious foods in barbecue cuisine. Their finger-licking flavor and fall-off-the-bone tenderness make them a backyard grilling favorite But when cooking for a crowd, it can be tricky to figure out exactly how many ribs to make per person Depending on whether you choose baby back ribs, spare ribs, or St. Louis style ribs, the serving amount can vary. Read on for a complete guide on serving sizes for different cuts of pork ribs.
An Overview of Pork Rib Types
There are a few main kinds of pork ribs that you’ll commonly see
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Baby back ribs – From the loin near the spine. More tender with less meat.
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Spare ribs – From the belly and side. Meatier with more connective tissue.
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St. Louis ribs – Spare ribs trimmed into a rectangular shape. More consistent shape and meat-to-bone ratio.
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Country-style ribs – Cut from the shoulder near the front legs Shaped like chops with bone
Baby backs and spares/St. Louis are most often used for barbecue. Country-style are better braised or roasted.
Serving Size Guidelines Per Type of Rib
So how many ribs should you allot per person? Here are the general recommendations:
Baby Back Ribs
- 6 ribs per adult
- 3 ribs per child
Baby backs have less meat than spare ribs. So you need to serve more bones per person to provide sufficient meat. Plan for approximately half a rack per adult and a quarter rack per child.
Spare Ribs or St. Louis Style Ribs
- 4-5 ribs per adult
- 2-3 ribs per child
With their meatier profile, spare ribs and St. Louis ribs allow you to get away with fewer bones per serving. Go with 4-5 per adult and 2-3 per child.
Beef Short Ribs
- 2-3 ribs per adult
- 1 rib per child
Beef ribs are huge and packed with meat and fat. Two or three per adult is plenty. Scale back to one rib for children.
Serving Considerations
Here are some tips for getting your rib quantities right:
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If ribs are the main dish, stay on the higher end of the recommendations.
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If you’re also serving other proteins like chicken or sausage, reduce portions slightly.
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For big eaters, add 1-2 extra ribs per person.
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Have extra ribs on hand or be prepared for leftovers.
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Pair with hearty sides like baked beans, slaw, corn, potatoes to round out the meal.
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Cut individual ribs in half for easier sharing and sampling of sauces.
Handy Serving Size Calculator
Use this simple calculator to determine how many racks of ribs you need to buy based on headcount and rib type.
[Insert rib calculator embedded from AngryBBQ site]
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ribs are in a full rack?
- Baby back ribs: 12-13 ribs
- Spare ribs: 13 ribs
- Beef short ribs: Usually 3-4 ribs
How much meat is on a rack of ribs?
On average, a rack of pork baby back ribs yields 1.5 to 2.5 pounds of meat. A rack of pork spare ribs yields 2 to 3.5 pounds of meat.
Should each person get a full rack?
Most people will not be able to finish a full rack alone. Serving sizes above are for individual ribs, not full racks. However, providing an entire rack can make for a nice presentation.
Can I grill pork ribs instead of smoking them?
Absolutely! While smoking yields the most tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, you can also grill them over direct high heat. Just watch closely to avoid burning.
How can I make ribs go farther for large groups?
Serve ribs alongside other proteins like smoked chicken or pulled pork. Make sure to have plenty of hearty barbecue sides. And cutting ribs into halves or thirds makes it easy for people to sample multiple flavors.
What are the best rib recipes and cooking tips?
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Rub ribs with a flavorful dry rub and let them sit at least an hour before cooking.
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Smoke low and slow at 225-250°F for best results.
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Spritz ribs with apple juice or other liquid during smoking to keep moist.
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Wrap ribs in foil at the halfway point to power through the stall.
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Finish ribs on higher heat or grill to caramelize sauce.
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Let ribs rest 10-15 minutes before cutting for juicier meat.
What are the best rib sides?
Classic barbecue sides like coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, cornbread, and potato salad all pair deliciously with pork ribs. Mix up flavors and textures with your sides.
Get Your Rib Servings Just Right
Serving up the perfect amount of tasty, juicy ribs is easy when you follow our guidelines per rib type and number of guests. A good rule of thumb is 6 baby backs per adult, 4-5 spare or St. Louis ribs per adult, and 2-3 beef short ribs. Use our calculator to determine total racks. Happy grilling!
How much brisket per person?
As a general rule, each person should have about ⅓ pound of cooked brisket for their main dish.
There is a chance that this amount will be ½ pound if your guests eat a lot or ¼ pound if you have a lot of sides.
It is important to remember that the amount of meat you buy raw does not equal the amount you cook it.
Count on brisket losing up to half of its weight once you have trimmed the fat and liquid has been lost in the cooking process. Counting on a 50% loss could be a slight overestimation, but it will ensure no one is left hungry.
Since cooking brisket is a lot of work, it’s always good to have some extra for yourself.
Factors that can change how much meat you need to serve per person
There are a lot of different factors that can influence how much food you need to prepare:
- How many side dishes are you going to serve, and how “heavy” will they be? Are you going to have dessert?
- What time is the event going to start and end? If the lunch lasts a long time, people might graze. People do, however, tend to eat more at dinner.
- Who is coming? Will there be a lot of kids? Are most of your guests men or women? Are some of your guests vegetarian? What age range are your guests?
- What kind of event is it? Is it formal or casual? Will people sit down or move around? Will there be alcohol? Drinking alcohol usually makes people eat more.